to cover or uncover

I'm new here...I bought a house with a pool and was able to enjoy it. It's getting close to the end of swimming season and was thinking about closing the pool. I was going to pay someone to cover the pool. I am not sure what all the steps involved in closing the pool for the winter? I hate to pay someone $150-$200. (Since, I had to buy a new pool motor yesterday).

My neighbor just had a pool built. I asked if they are going to close their pool. The are going to leave it uncover for the winter. We live in Arkansas so they isn't too much terrible freezing weather. It does freeze at times...They were told to leave it uncover, skim it, and run the motor for about a couple of hours a day...if freezing tempature run it more. Is this a good idea?

For new pool owners, I always STRONGLY recommend that they pay for their first closing . . . but that the schedule it to take place when they can be home, and ready with a notepad and camera.

That's by-far the easiest way to learn to do it.

So, bite the bullet this year, and save by doing it yourself next year. (That way, you won't be buying a new PUMP or filter valve, next spring!)

I was just wonderng about my neighbors...is this a new method of just running your pump a couple of hours in the winter? Is this safe or will they have some major problems in the spring? Living in central Arkansas it does get cold and we do have some days of freezing temps.

What do you think might happen so I can tell them and for them to get another opinion about their winter/uncover method?

Tell them to register, and ask for themselves.

I really, really try to avoid answering 3rd-hand questions -- there've been some bad outcomes from that in years past, where some critical details got lost in the process.

(But, if pumps, valves or other equipment freezes with water in them . . . they will burst. If you keep them from freezing, that's another story.)